Chapter 271: Sage Mode Jiraiya, Here I Come!
Under the curtain of rain, the clamor and cruelty of the three-way melee reached its peak.
The explosions of ninjutsu, the roars of summoned beasts, the sharp clashes of metal, and the screams of the dying mingled with the ceaseless sound of rain, forming a symphony of blood.
At the edge of the battlefield, in the shadow of an unremarkable tall tower, space suddenly twisted like a vortex.
A figure wearing an orange single-eyed tiger mask and the Akatsuki organization’s black robe with red clouds emerged from the vortex. His exposed single eye coldly scanned the intense battlefield in the distance.
It was Obito Uchiha, who had rushed back from outside after receiving Zetsu’s notification.
On the wall beside him, Zetsu’s eerie half-black, half-white body slowly emerged.
“Oh dear, what a lively scene!” White Zetsu’s half spoke first in his characteristic frivolous tone. “That lecherous immortal Jiraiya somehow made it to Rain Village. Pain and Konan said they were going to kill him, but from the looks of it… they haven’t succeeded yet? Geez, they’ve caused such a huge commotion.”
Obito coldly snorted. The expression under his mask showed no fluctuation, but the name “Jiraiya” stirred some unpleasant memories.
He recalled that night, the Nine-Tails rampaging in Konoha, and… Minato Namikaze, his teacher, and Kushina Uzumaki lying in pools of blood.
The smooth execution of that plan came with an indescribable heaviness, signifying his complete severance from his former self.
“Hmph, pointless interference.” Obito’s voice came through the mask, sounding low and hoarse.
Black Zetsu’s half analyzed in a more sinister tone: “Nagato’s goal is probably not just Jiraiya. He must be using Jiraiya’s intrusion and the chaos it creates to lure out that old turtle who’s been hiding in the tall tower—”
Hanzo of the Salamander!
Obito’s gaze turned to the distance, just in time to see Hanzo of the Salamander’s summoned giant Salamander Idfu, and the scene of intense battle with Deva Path and Asura Path.
Hanzo’s signature chain scythe danced impenetrably, but before Pain’s eerie abilities, he was already struggling.
“It seems Nagato’s scheme has succeeded.” Obito said flatly, his tone betraying no approval or anything else.
His gaze then shifted to another direction, where Animal Path, still invisible, continued manipulating several hellhounds to search for Jiraiya’s whereabouts.
“However…” A flash of icy killing intent gleamed in Obito’s single eye: “Jiraiya must die here.”
His goal was to collect the nine Tails, execute the “Eye of the Moon Plan,” and create a world with Rin.
This plan was destined to clash head-on with the Five Great Shinobi Villages that controlled the Tails.
Before that, weakening the top combat power of the Five Great Shinobi Villages as much as possible was a crucial step.
Whether it was his assistance to Itachi Uchiha in slaughtering the Uchiha Clan, greatly weakening Konoha’s Sharingan bloodline, or his current intent to kill one of the Sannin, Jiraiya, it was all for this ultimate goal.
Eliminating these strong practitioners who might cause trouble in the future would make the Eye of the Moon Plan smoother.
…
On the battlefield, Hanzo of the Salamander’s situation grew increasingly dire.
He was forced into some disarray by those two endlessly splitting, seemingly immortal hellhounds and the giant bird lurking for opportunities. The armor symbolizing his “Demigod” dignity was marred with several damages and claw marks.
But he was ultimately a battle-hardened strong practitioner. Seizing a gap, the chain shot out like a striking venomous snake, fiercely wrapping around a hellhound’s neck and slamming it against the wall. His body borrowed the momentum, advancing like a ghost, targeting Deva Path standing motionless at the top of the tall tower!
“Chain Scythe · Two-Stage Strike!”
The sharp scythe blade cut through the rain curtain with a shrill sound of air breaking, aiming straight for Deva Path’s head!
Ruthless light flickered in Hanzo’s eyes. He knew well: capture the thief by capturing the king first!
And he was convinced that this “Yahiko” before him was controlling these summoned beasts.
Mad killing intent burned in Hanzo’s eyes as he roared: “In that case, I’ll kill you again! Yahiko!”
However, just as the scythe blade was mere centimeters from Deva Path’s face, when he seemed to already ‘see’ the blade sinking into the opponent’s cheek with blood and brains splattering, Deva Path finally moved.
He merely raised his hand slightly and uttered four cold, merciless words:
“Almighty Push.”
Hum—!
A terrifying repulsion, more concentrated and massive than when it had repelled Hanzo and the Anbu earlier, erupted centered on Deva Path!
Hanzo felt an irresistible force slam into his scythe and his entire body!
That near distance turned into an insurmountable chasm; his scythe could advance no further!
“What?!” The ferocity on Hanzo’s face instantly turned to utmost shock!
Immediately after, his whole body was smashed back like by an invisible giant hammer, at even greater speed than his approach. He even spat out a mouthful of blood, crashing heavily onto the broad head of his summoned Salamander Idfu.
“Lord Hanzo!” The few remaining loyal Anbu cried out in alarm, but they could barely protect themselves.
Asura Path had already shed the Akatsuki black robe with red clouds, revealing his modified three-headed, six-armed mechanical body. Massive serrated blades extended from his back, rotating to reap lives.
Soon, these small fry turned into cold corpses under Asura Path’s killing machine-like attacks and the summoned beasts’ siege, rolling down from between the tall towers, washed away by the merciless rain.
Hanzo leaned on his scythe, struggling to stand on the salamander’s head. Looking around, aside from the summoned beast under his feet, there was no longer a single standing subordinate.
Despair and anger intertwined in his heart.
At this point, he no longer cared that this was Rain Village’s core area, where civilians who hadn’t evacuated in time might still be nearby!
He must survive, must eliminate these threats!
“Idfu!” Hanzo rasped to the summoned beast underfoot: “Poison spray!”
Salamander Idfu’s massive head reared high, its throat rumbling deeply as it gathered deadly venom.
The next moment, it opened its giant maw, and a thick, tangible purple poison mist surged out like a breached flood, rapidly spreading to cover a radius of hundreds of meters, engulfing Deva Path, Asura Path, and those troublesome summoned beasts!
Wherever the poison mist passed, even the rainwater seemed dyed with an eerie hue. The surrounding metal and stones hissed with corrosion.
Hanzo stared intently at the churning poison mist, his breathing quickened with tension and expectation.
He knew this poison’s power all too well—even a Kage-level strong practitioner would gradually lose combat power after inhaling a breath!
“Success?” Hanzo watched the figures in the mist seemingly freeze, a glimmer of post-crisis relief on his face.
As if bolstering his own courage or declaring victory, he roared loudly: “This is poison gas that even Kage-level strong practitioners dread! Even I would be in trouble if I inhaled it! You… uh?!”
His words cut off abruptly, as if his throat were gripped.
Because, from the thick poison mist, those figures emerged unscathed, step by step!
Deva Path, Asura Path, and those two hellhounds and the giant bird—none showed signs of corrosion, their movements unimpeded, as if the deadly poison mist were mere ordinary vapor to them!
“No… impossible! Idfu’s poison gas… how could it fail?!” The relief on Hanzo’s face turned to utter shock and incomprehension, completely overturning his knowledge!
His strongest trump card… ineffective?!
Deva Path gazed indifferently at the distraught Hanzo with those Rinnegan eyes, like a deity judging a fallen mortal. His cold voice pierced the rain curtain, clearly reaching Hanzo’s ears:
“Hanzo of the Salamander… Once, you fought to the death to drive foreign ninja out of the Land of Rain, revered by this country’s people as a guardian deity, honored as ‘Demigod.'”
His voice held no inflection, yet carried a coldness that pierced all.
“Yet look at you now. To consolidate your power, you colluded with Konoha’s Danzō, betraying and ambushing the Akatsuki organization, who once saw you as hope and strived for peace in the country.”
“Feeling threatened, you cower in your lair like a coward, relying only on your subordinates’ sacrifices to maintain your crumbling rule, even releasing this indiscriminate deadly poison in your own village…”
Deva Path slowly raised his hand.
“You, who only care about your own survival and have long abandoned the Land of Rain and its people… are no longer worthy of being called ‘Demigod.'”
“You are merely a pathetic, cowardly… waste.”
These words cut like the sharpest blade into Hanzo’s heart.
He looked at that face belonging to Yahiko, yet lifeless, feeling for the first time an unprecedented pressure and fear from the depths of his soul.
It was not fear of power, but fear of his beliefs collapsing, his life’s work utterly denied.
“No… I…” Hanzo tried to retort but found himself speechless.
At that moment, Deva Path’s outstretched palm suddenly generated a massive pull!
“Universal Pull!”
Hanzo felt an irresistible force seize him firmly, yanking him from Salamander Idfu’s head, hurtling uncontrollably toward Deva Path!
“Urgh!” Hanzo struggled in terror, to no avail.
In the instant he reached Deva Path, neighboring Asura Path moved!
The massive, high-speed rotating serrated blade from his back thrust out fiercely!
Splurt—!
Accompanied by the teeth-grinding sound of flesh tearing, the sharp serrations easily pierced Hanzo’s body!
Blood sprayed instantly, staining Asura Path’s mechanical arm and the rainwater below.
Hanzo’s body stiffened violently, intense pain sweeping through him.
He lowered his head in disbelief, staring at the blood-drenched serrations piercing his chest, then arduously lifted his head to gaze at that close… Yahiko’s face.
Yahiko… that boy once full of ideals and vigor, who even in ambush willingly sacrificed for his companions…
In a daze, Hanzo’s thoughts drifted back long ago.
He recalled his youth, challenging half the ninja world with fervor and ambition to free the Land of Rain from becoming a battlefield for great nations.
From being alone at first to more and more Rain ninja following him—no matter the Land of Earth, Land of Wind, or Land of Fire, none could underestimate his power.
He also recalled a few years ago, under Danzō’s honeyed words and temptations of power, how he had led that bloody ambush on the Akatsuki organization…
An indescribable emotion mixing regret, sorrow, and profound irony flooded him like a tide.
He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately, only blood mixed with bubbles overflowed from his gas mask.
The light in his eyes rapidly dimmed, his head lolled powerlessly, completely losing vitality.
This “Demigod” once renowned in the ninja world, the ruler of the Land of Rain, ended his complex and contradictory life in such a dramatic and tragic manner.
With Hanzo’s death, his summoned beast Salamander Idfu let out a low mournful cry, turning into white smoke and vanishing.
Asura Path indifferently retracted the serrations, casually holding Hanzo’s corpse in hand.
This body might have other uses in the future.
Deva Path slowly turned, directing those Rinnegan eyes toward the area where Jiraiya had vanished earlier.
While he dealt with Hanzo, the splitting hellhounds hadn’t stopped searching.
Animal Path, hidden in the chameleon, continued spying from the shadows. Konan flew in the air like a white angel, her gaze repeatedly scanning the ruins below.
At that moment, Konan’s gaze sharpened, locking onto the depths of a particularly dark alley piled with discarded pipes.
From there came clear, unhurried footsteps.
Wooden clogs stepping on the wet ground made “creak” and “creak” sounds, exceptionally clear amid the temporarily quiet rain from the battle’s lull.
Accompanying the footsteps were two elderly-sounding yet vigorous voices in conversation.
An old woman’s voice carried clear dissatisfaction and complaint: “Little Jiraiya, every time you summon us, it’s to some noisy, smoky place! Honestly, no consideration for us elders!”
The other old man’s voice was milder and more tolerant, chuckling to smooth things over: “Come on, dear, don’t say that. Little Jiraiya must have run into a really tough enemy and had no choice but to summon us, right, kid?”
The old woman immediately retorted: “You always take his side, old man! Honestly, at our age, having to come fight in a place like this…”
At this point, Jiraiya’s apologetic voice rang out: “I’m truly sorry, Sage Fukasaku, Sage Shima.”
“It’s been so long since we met, and here I am troubling you two right away. But this time’s opponents are no small matter.”
“They… possess the legendary ‘Sage of Six Paths’ Eyes’—the Rinnegan.”
“What?! The legendary Eyes of the Six Paths?!” The toad granny called Sage Shima exclaimed, her dissatisfaction instantly replaced by gravity.
Sage Fukasaku’s voice also grew solemn: “Sage of Six Paths’ Eyes, huh… Looks like we’re in real trouble this time.”
Under the shocked gazes of Konan and the hidden Animal Path in the distance, a figure utterly different from before slowly emerged from the alley’s shadows.
Still that wild white hair, but the comical oil paint markings on his face had vanished, replaced by red toad-eye-like patterns around his eye sockets.
His nose bridge seemed broader, faintly taking on toad features.
Most striking were the two small yet powerfully radiating nature energy old toads perched on his left and right shoulders!
The old toad on the left had eyebrows extending to its ears, sharp-eyed; the one on the right had a bun-like head and purple lipstick, with a stern expression.
At this moment, Jiraiya’s aura was perfectly integrated, resonating faintly with the surrounding nature energy, exuding a profound and powerful sense of oppression!
He raised his head, those toad-like eyes gleaming, calmly facing Konan in the air and the seemingly empty area before him, his battle intent soaring!
Sage Mode, Jiraiya, enters the fray!
【PS: Forgot this is double monthly ticket period, begging for some monthly tickets. One more chapter tonight to make up for yesterday’s.】
